Volatile Article and Method of Use

ABSTRACT

A dispenser for a volatile material may be a cover that may be selectively attached to a base to form an internal cavity between them. A method is described for providing a visual indication when an item, such as the cover, needs to be replaced. The cover has a first initial size condition. The volatile material is permitted to evaporate from the cover into the air. The cover is permitted to shrink to a second size condition to provide a visual indication that the cover needs to be replaced.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to and incorporates by referencein its entirety U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/155,925filed on Feb. 27, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a volatile article and its method ofuse, including a method of providing a visual indication when thevolatile article should be replaced. The invention may be used as amethod of providing a visual indication when an air freshening articleat least partially constructed of a volatile material should bereplaced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Articles for releasing substances, such as sanitizing, deodorizing,freshening, neutralizing or insect repelling substances, into the airare well-known. For example, air freshening articles typically comprisea housing and a separate air freshener composition located within thehousing. Typically, the composition is removable from the housing sothat upon its exhaustion, it may be removed and replaced.

There are, however, a number of disadvantages associated with the priorart designs. First, by locating the composition within the housing, itmay be difficult to know when the composition has been exhausted.Second, labor and material costs are increased by requiring someone tocheck on the status of the composition which often is not easilydiscernable and, if it is exhausted, remove it from its housing andreplace it with a new composition.

Some prior art designs have electronic monitors that provide an externalindication of the status of the composition, but such monitors areexpensive, unreliable at times, require maintenance and upkeepthemselves and are prone to failure. Further, these electronic monitorsserve at the pleasure of the power source to which they are connected.If the power source becomes interrupted or altogether fails or expires,such as with a battery, the ability of the article to releaseappreciable amounts of the substance, if any at all, may be nil. Failureor malfunction of the monitor is particularly problematic when there isstill composition left to be released.

It would therefore be advantageous to provide a simple, inexpensive,reliable and easy to use visual indication when a composition has beenexhausted and for that composition to effectively be released into theair. It would also be advantageous for the dispenser to itself beconstructed of the volatile material to reduce cost, decreasecomplexity, and increase ease of use and effectiveness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a cover is provided having an internal surface and anexternal surface. The cover may be in the shape of a shell-likehemisphere. The cover may be selectively engaged with a base to form acavity between them. The cover and/or the base may be constructed of avolatile material.

In another embodiment, the present invention is directed toward a methodof providing a visual indication when an article, itself made of thevolatile material, should be replaced. For example, the cover is in aninitial first size condition and it is constructed at least partially ofa polymeric plastic infused with a volatile material. The volatilematerial is permitted to evaporate from the cover into the air. Thecover is permitted to shrink to a second size condition to provide avisual indication in physical size that the cover should be replaced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detailed description when considered in the light of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective side view along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a base of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is sectional view of a cover of the present invention in a firstcondition;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the cover in FIG. 4 in a second condition;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of one embodiment of an airfoil of the presentinvention in a first condition; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the airfoil in FIG. 6 is a second condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternativeorientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to thecontrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices andprocesses illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in thefollowing specification are simply exemplary embodiments of theinventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specificdimensions, directions or other physical characteristics relating to theembodiments disclosed are not to be considered as limiting, unless theclaims expressly state otherwise.

Referring now to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the present invention isdepicted. The present invention comprises a dispenser 10 for a volatilematerial where at least part of the dispenser 10 itself is the volatilematerial. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the present inventiondepicted in FIG. 1 has a cover 12. The cover 12 has an internal surface14 and an external surface 16, which may be also seen in FIG. 2. As usedherein, the term cover represents the outermost portion of the devicethat is exposed to view and that conceals, in whole or in part, a base,an airfoil (if any), a motor (if any) and a power source (if any).Preferably, the cover is not blocked from view by any other component ofthe device.

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment depicts thesurfaces 14, 16 defining a thickness of material between them that issubstantially constant. Those skilled in the art will recognized thatvarious variations in the thickness may be incurred by the method ofmanufacture utilized but despite these variations the cover 12 stillfalls within the term substantially constant.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to intentionallyvary the thickness of the cover 12 across the entire cover 12 or inselected portions of the cover 12. It will be later appreciated by thefollowing disclosure that this permits for certain areas of the cover 12to release more or less of the volatile material, thus permitting thecover 12 to be tailored to a particular location or use.

Preferably, the cover 12 is substantially hemispherical is shape, suchas the curvilinear hemisphere of a globe. However, in the preferredembodiment, the curved internal surface 14, together with the curvedexternal surface 16, creates the hemisphere into a shell-like structure.A lower perimeter portion 18 of the cover 12 is therefore substantiallycircular in shape for the depicted embodiment.

The cover 12 is preferably one-piece and integrally formed, although itmay be constructed of two or more pieces that may or may not be joinedtogether. Regardless of the number of pieces, the cover 12 may haveradiused shoulder portions 20 and a planar or a curvilinear centerportion 22.

It is also within the scope of the present invention for the cover 12 tobe formed of other shapes. By way of example only, the cover 12 may bein the shape of a rectangle, square, triangle or any polygon. Theseshapes may have perimeter portions that are the same as the overallshape of the cover 12 or the lower perimeter portions 18 may differ fromthe overall shape.

FIG. 1 depicts a plurality of apertures 24 in the cover 12. While aplurality of apertures 24 is depicted, the number of apertures 24 mayvary from one to any number. Additionally, no aperture may be providedin the cover 12 at all.

The apertures 24 depicted in FIG. 1 are substantially equidistant fromone another about the cover 12, although any spacing may be used. In thedepicted embodiment, the apertures 24 extend from the circular centerportion 22 of the cover 12 radially outward. The apertures 24 are formedin the shape of elongated slots. The apertures 24 are not limited to thedepicted design and may instead comprise any shape. Further, eachaperture may have a different shape. Additionally, the shape of thecenter portion 22 may be any design and it is not limited to a circle.

From the foregoing, it can be appreciated that the cover 12 may beprovided with a decorative design that is ascetically pleasing. Thedecorative design may be a result of the overall shape of the cover 12,the design of the apertures 24, or other features.

In FIG. 2, the cover 12 of FIG. 1 is depicted with a base 26. FIG. 3depicts the base 26 by itself. Preferably, the base 26 has acomplimentary shape to the lower perimeter portion 18 of the cover 12,but this is not required. In the depicted invention, the base 26 has asubstantially circular perimeter 28. As used herein, the termsubstantially circular perimeter includes a perimeter that is entirelycircular as well as a perimeter that includes various notches and/orirregularities to accommodate and/or form features of the base 26.

The base 26 has a first surface 30 and a second surface 32. The firstsurface 30 faces the internal surface 14 of the cover 12. The secondsurface 32 of the base 26 is opposite the first surface 30. The secondsurface 32 may be substantially planar. A substantially planar surfaceassists the base 26 in being connected to a wall or other complimentaryplanar surface (not shown), whether vertically oriented or horizontallyoriented. While a planar second surface 32 is depicted, it may bereadily appreciated that the second surface 32 can be formed to beadapted to any surface of any shape or size.

It is preferred that the base 26 is one-piece and integrally formed,however, the base 26 may be 2 or more pieces that may or may not bejoined.

The base 26 preferably has a number of upstanding legs 34 that areintegrally formed with the base 26. The legs 34 may be of any numberincluding one. An alternative embodiment that is not shown does notrequire any legs.

The legs 34 in the depicted embodiment have a C-shaped cross-section,although other shapes are permissible. The C-shaped cross-sectionextends from a C-shaped notch formed in the base 26 itself. The legs 34may be equally spaced from one another along the base perimeter 28, butthe spacing may vary.

A first portion 36 of each leg 34 extends upwardly from the base 26. Thefirst portion 36 transitions to a second portion 38 located above thefirst portion 36. Preferably, each second portion 38 has a taper, butthe first portion 36 may be tapered too. The taper of the second portion36 preferably follows, and may even contact, the internal surface 14 ofthe cover 12. The first portion 36 and the second portion 38 of the leg34 are substantially perpendicular to the first surface 30 of the base26.

The legs 34 and/or the perimeter 28 of the base 26 may selectivelyengage the internal surface 14 of the cover 12 to support the cover 12and may also provide a frictional engagement that selectively securesthe two together. Additional, or alternative means, to secure the cover12 to the base 26, as described below, may be used.

As shown on FIG. 3, a biasing member 40 may be located on the base 26.In the preferred embodiment, the biasing member 40 is integrally formedwith the base 26. The biasing member 40 may be such as a hook-likemember designed to engage with a continuous or partial rim, or aperture,(not shown) on the internal surface 14 of the cover 12. The biasingmember 40 may be located at or near the perimeter 28 of the base 26. Thebiasing member 40 may be dimensioned such that it is flexible enough tobe selectively pushed away from the base perimeter 28 so that itdisengages the rim, ledge or aperture to permit the cover 12 to beunlocked from the base 26. Preferably, the biasing member 40 isresilient enough that it moves back into position to engage the cover 12after being moved away from it.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a rotating airfoil 42 is depicted on the base 26.The airfoil 42 may be such as a fan. The fan may have any number ofblades with any number of designs. In one embodiment, the fan has 7blades. The blades are connected to a hub 44 of the fan. The hub 44 isrotationally mounted substantially in the middle of the base 26,although it may be located anywhere on the base 26. The airfoil 42 maybe used with or without the cover 12.

The hub 44 may be connected to an electric motor 46 either directly asshown in FIG. 2, or through gearing, drive belts or the like. Theelectric motor 46 is provided with a source of energy. The energy sourcemay be such as a battery 48, or a solar cell. Alternatively, the hub 44may be permitted to rotate freely without any drive mechanism by virtueof air moving within the cover 12.

Another embodiment of the present invention does not have any airfoil.In that embodiment, the invention comprises the cover 12 and the base26.

A switch (not shown) may be located between the energy source 48 and themotor 46. The switch may be such as an on-off switch, a photocell, ormotion sensor or a timer. The cover 12 may function in a protective wayfor any or all of the features discussed above.

The base 26, the cover 12 and/or the airfoil 42 are preferablyconstructed, in whole or in part, of a polymeric plastic that has beeninfused with a volatile material. In a preferred embodiment, the plasticmay be such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) by itself or the EVA may becombined with a copolymer. The copolymer may be such as polypropylene,polyethylene, or polyvinyl chloride. The volatile material may comprise30-65% of the plastic weight. The volatile material may be, but is notlimited to, a sanitizing material, a deodorizing material, a fresheningmaterial, a neutralizing material and/or a pest repelling material.Examples, which the present invention is not limited to, of pestrepelling materials are clove or thyme oil. Examples, also which thepresent invention is not limited to, of freshening materials are mint,honeysuckle, apple and the like.

In addition, or alternatively, to the volatile material, the base 26,the cover 12 and/or the airfoil 44 may be constructed, in whole or inpart, of at least one color changing material. By way of example,approximately 1% leuco crystal violet pigment may be added to any ofthese structures. Over a predetermined period of time the pigmentoxidizes resulting in a color change from white to purple in color.Different pigments may be used for the cover 12, the base 26 and/orairfoil 42 that change colors at different times, or all at the sametime.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to construct thebase 26, the cover 12 and/or the airfoil 44 of paper, natural orman-made sponge, foam and/or fabric or textile material. In fact, anymaterial capable of absorbing the volatile material and/or pigment maybe used.

The present invention also comprises a method of providing a visualindication when the volatile material needs to be replaced. Thefollowing steps will be described in the embodiment where the cover 12is comprised of the volatile material. However, as previously mentioned,the base 26 and/or the airfoil 42 may also be constructed of the samevolatile material, or they may be constructed of a different volatilematerial, or no volatile material may be used for them at all.

The cover 12 is provided in a first initial size condition 50. The cover12 may be removed from its packaging or the like, if any is provided,and located on the base 26. The cover 12, when located on the base 26,defines a cavity 52. More particularly, the cavity 52 is created betweenthe internal surface 14 of the cover 12 and the first surface 30 of thebase 26. The cover 12 and base 26 combination may be located, forexample, in a restroom.

The base 26 may be mounted to a wall in the restroom, such as bylocating a mechanical fastener through a hanger portion 54 connected tothe base 26. The cover 12 is exposed to the air in the room where it islocated. The volatile material, or materials, immediately begin toevaporate, or otherwise disperse into minute particles, from the cover12 into the surrounding air. The surrounding air thus becomes sanitized,deodorized, freshened, and/or malodors are neutralized and/or the pestrepelling material disperses into the air. Alternatively, oradditionally, the color changing material may begin its oxidationprocess, or other chemically related change depending on the materialused.

Due to the fact that the volatile material comprises a significantportion of the cover 12, its evaporation from the cover 12 causes thecover 12 to change in size over time to an extent that the change isvisually perceptible. The cover 12 thus changes in size from its firstinitial size condition 50 to a second size condition 56 that is smallerthan the first size condition 50.

FIGS. 4 and 5 provide one example of the change in size of the cover 12from the first size condition 50 to the second, smaller size condition56. In FIG. 4, the internal surface 14 has a radius 58 and the externalsurface 16 has a radius 60. FIG. 5 depicts the same cover 12 after thevolatile material has significantly evaporated from the cover 12. Here,the internal surface 14 has a radius of 62, where 62 is less than 58,and an external surface radius of 64, where 64 is less than 60.

The cover 12 may shrink by approximately 10-30% of its original size asa result of the evaporation of the volatile material. One embodiment ofthe cover 12 shrinks to approximately 20% of the first size condition 50when a majority of the volatile material has evaporated. In this case, amajority means approximately 75-95% of the volatile material. Thus, byway of example only, where one embodiment of the cover 12 has an outerdiameter of approximately 4.5 inches when it is initially installed, theouter diameter of the cover 12 may shrink to approximately 3.6 inchesonce a majority of the volatile material has evaporated.

The amount of evaporation of the volatile material is a function of manyfactors including, but not limited to, temperature, humidity, the degreeof air circulation about the cover 12, the thickness of the cover 12,the amount of volatile material in the cover 12 and/or the kind ofcopolymer, if any, included with the EVA.

The significant change in the dimension of the cover 12 is readilyperceptible. The change in the cover 12 from the first size condition 50to the second size condition 56 makes it easy for a person to understandthat the sanitizing, deodorizing, freshening, and/or malodorsneutralizing and/or the pest repelling ability of the cover 12 has beensignificantly reduced from the condition of the cover 12 when it wasinitially installed. The person can therefore easily remove the depletedcover from the base 26 and replace it with a new cover 12.

Despite this noticeable change in the size of the cover 12, it may bereadily removed from the base 26. The cover 12 is designed so that inits first size condition 50, it fits somewhat loosely on the base 26. Asthe volatile material evaporates, the cover 12 shrinks and fits moretightly on the base 26. It is preferred that the cover 12 does notshrink to the point that it comes off of the base 26 by itself.

As previously mentioned, the thickness of the cover 12 may vary. By wayof example only, it may be possible to reduce the thickness of the coverfrom 0.180″ to approximately 0.100″ in selected areas. It has been foundthat the volatile material evaporates faster in areas where the coverthickness has been reduced. The size change in these areas thus becomesparticularly noticeable. It may therefore be appreciated that prominentareas of the cover 12, such as the center portion 22, may be reduced inthickness so that their size change is more noticeable as compared tothe size change in other areas of the cover 12.

FIGS. 6 and 7 depict a similar shrinkage of an airfoil 42 that has beenconstructed of the volatile material in similar proportions to that ofthe cover 12. FIG. 6 depicts the airfoil 42 having a predetermineddiameter 66 in a first initial, or unused, condition. FIG. 7 depicts thesame airfoil 42 having a reduced diameter 68 as a result of exposure toair and permitting the volatile material to significantly evaporate fromthe airfoil 42. The diameter 68 is significantly less than diameter 66permitting a clear visual indication to a person that the volatilematerial is no longer present in an effective quantity in the airfoil42. The installed airfoil 42 may then be readily replaced with a newairfoil 42 that is fully loaded with the volatile material. Changes insize of the airfoil 42 are similar to those discussed above for thecover 12. Thus, the change in size of the airfoil 42 needs to bechanged.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the presentinvention has been described in what is considered to represent itspreferred embodiments. However, it should be noted that the inventioncan be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated anddescribed without departing from its spirit or scope.

1. A dispenser constructed of a volatile material, comprising: a coverhaving an internal surface and an external surface, said surfacesdefining a substantially constant thickness between them, and saidsurfaces defining said cover as a curved hemisphere; and a base defininga plurality of upstanding legs that engage said internal surface of saidcover to selectively secure said cover to said base; wherein saidinternal surface of said cover and said base together form an internalcavity between them.
 2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein a plurality ofapertures extend between said internal surface and said externalsurface.
 3. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said cover and/or saidbase are a polymeric plastic infused with a volatile material.
 4. Thedispenser of claim 3, wherein said cover and/or said base are anethylene vinyl acetate copolymer material combined with said volatilematerial, said volatile material comprising approximately 30-65% of saidcover weight or said base weight.
 5. The dispenser of claim 1, whereinsaid legs are integrally formed with and equidistantly spaced about aperimeter portion of said base.
 6. The dispenser of claim 5, whereinsaid legs have curvilinear upper surfaces that frictionally engage withsaid internal surface of said cover.
 7. The dispenser of claim 1,wherein a motor and a fan are located within said cavity, said motor andsaid fan being supported on said base.
 8. The dispenser of claim 7,wherein said fan is a polymeric plastic infused with a volatilematerial.
 9. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein a biasing member isintegrally formed with a perimeter portion of said base, said biasingmember selectively securing said cover to said base.
 10. A dispensercomprising a hemispherical shell-like cover having at least one apertureextending through said cover; a base that said cover is selectivelyattached to, said base having a first surface and a second surface,wherein said first surface and said cover define a cavity of saiddispenser; wherein one or both of said cover and said base are apolymeric plastic infused with a volatile material.
 11. The dispenser ofclaim 10, wherein at least two legs are integrally formed with saidbase, said legs extend into said cavity and contact an internal surfaceof said cover.
 12. The dispenser of claim 10, wherein said secondsurface of said base is substantially planar and bounded by asubstantially circular perimeter.
 13. A method of providing a visualindication when a volatile article needs to be replaced, comprising:providing a base; providing a cover in a first size condition, saidcover having an internal surface facing said base and an externalsurface opposite said internal surface, said surfaces at least partiallyenclose said base, said cover being selectively attachable to said baseand constructed at least partially of a polymeric plastic infused with avolatile material; exposing at least said external surface of said coverto air; permitting said volatile material to evaporate from said coverinto said air; and shrinking at least said external surface of saidcover to a second size condition so as to provide a visual indication inphysical size of said cover indicating that said cover needs to bereplaced.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein a fan is located betweensaid cover and said base to circulate air about said cover.
 15. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising creating a rotating airfoil atleast partially of said polymeric plastic infused with said volatilematerial, mounting said airfoil to said base and propelling said airthrough said cover with said rotating airfoil.
 16. The method of claim13 wherein said airfoil has an initial physical size and uponevaporation of said volatile material from said airfoil, said airfoilchanges to a second smaller size.
 17. The method of claim 13, whereinsaid volatile ingredient is infused entirely throughout said cover. 18.The method of claim 13, wherein said volatile material is infused inselective portions of said cover.
 19. The method of claim 13, wherein atleast a second volatile material is infused with said cover.
 20. Themethod of claim 13, wherein a plurality of apertures is provided in saidcover for ingress and egress of air.
 21. The method of claim 13, whereinsaid base is constructed at least partially of said polymeric plasticinfused with said volatile material.
 22. The method of claim 13, whereinsaid second size condition is approximately 20% of said first sizecondition.
 23. A method of providing a visual indication when an airfreshening article needs to be replaced, comprising: combining a firstvolatile material with an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer material suchthat the combined material comprises between approximately 30-65% of thefirst volatile material; molding said combined material into a firststructure for at least partially covering a second structure on to whichthe first structure may be selectively attached, said molded combinedmaterial being in a first size condition upon attachment to said secondstructure; and permitting said volatile material to evaporate from saidfirst structure to change said first structure to a second sizecondition smaller than said first size condition; wherein said secondsize condition indicates that said first structure should be removedfrom said second structure and replaced with a replacement firststructure.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein said first structure is acurvilinear shell-like cover and said second structure is a base andwhen said cover is selectively attached to said base, said cover andsaid base form a cavity between them.
 25. The method of claim 23,wherein legs are integrally formed with said base and said legs engagesaid cover when said cover is attached to said base.
 26. The method ofclaim 23, further comprising creating said first structure as acurvilinear shell-like cover having a first radius of an outer surfaceof said shell and when said volatile material substantially evaporatesfrom said cover, said cover has a second radius of said outer surfacesmaller than said first radius.
 27. A method of providing a visualindication when an air freshening article needs to be replaced,comprising: combining a first volatile material with a material of afirst color to create a first structure; initially attaching said firststructure to a second structure; permitting said first volatile materialto evaporate from said first structure; permitting said material in saidfirst color to change to a second color different from said first colorsaid color change coinciding with the majority of said first volatilematerial having evaporated from said first structure; and removing saidfirst structure from said second structure when said first structurechanges to said second color and replacing said first structure withanother first structure.
 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising,providing said first structure in a first physical condition of a firstsize and then removing said first structure from said second structurewhen said first structure reaches a second different physical conditionof a smaller size different from said first physical condition.
 29. Themethod of claim 27, wherein said first color is throughout saidmaterial.
 30. The method of claim 27, wherein said first color is inselective portions of said material.
 31. The method of claim 27, whereinsaid second color appears throughout said material.
 32. The method ofclaim 27, wherein said second color appears in selective portions ofsaid material.